European Lygus Bug vs Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Lygus Bug | Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lygus rugulipennis | Microplitis demolitor |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Miridae | Braconidae |
| Size | 5-6 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | North America, South America, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
European Lygus Bug
A variable greenish to reddish-brown plant bug that is a major pest of strawberries and lettuce in Europe. It has a characteristic heart-shaped marking on the scutellum. It feeds by injecting digestive enzymes into plant tissue.
Did You Know?
A single bug feeding on a strawberry flower can cause the entire fruit to become deformed, resulting in significant economic losses to growers.
Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
A small endoparasitoid wasp that injects polydnavirus along with its eggs into caterpillar hosts. It is an important natural enemy of soybean looper and corn earworm.
Did You Know?
It injects a symbiotic virus along with its eggs that suppresses the caterpillar's immune system.